Stories in Stone



Crystallization of Salt Crystals (Experiment)



Problem/Purpose/Question


Tell the difference between rocks and minerals using crystal structures.

Hypothesis
We predict that after a day or so the water will evaporate and then the salt that is left behind will form salt crystals.

Materials
1 paper plate
Some hot water
Table salt
2 Dixie Cups
Procedure/ Observations
  • First you get some hot water that is a little bit cooler than boiling water.
  • Then get a plate and tape the handles of the spoons to the sides of the plate.
  • Then put two tablespoons into the water and stir it until the salt dissolves.
  • After that pour the solution into the spoons and then keep it on the counter for at least 48 hrs.
  • Finally the water will have evaporated leaving the salt crystals behind and you will see that the salt crystals would have grown bigger.

Rock
Mineral
combined from different minerals and rocks
are pure
semi-transparent
most are transparent
has a crystal structure
are made out of elements
different colors, sizes, and shapes
have special properties

has a crystal structure

have different color, sizes, and shapes

Data/Observations
The salt crystals are very fragile, just by pressing on them lightly they will break. The color of the salt crystals is kind of clear and white. The crystals are cubed shaped. They are all compacted together. Towards the center of the spoon there are small bumps of salt.

C.E.R.
Our hypothesis was correct. We predicted that after a day or so the would would evaporate and the salt that was left over would form into salt crystals. But we were also wrong as we didn't predict that the salt would have grown. So we are half correct and half incorrect.


Formation of Igneous Rocks (Experiment)



Problem/Purpose/ Question


How do Igneous rocks form?

Hypothesis


We predict that the spoon cooling at room temperature will have larger crystals than the spoon cooling below room temperature. I also predict that the shape, luster and the texture of the crystals will be different for the spoon cooling below room temperature.

Materials


1. 1 candle
2. 1 spoon
3. 1 cup
4. 1/8 of a cup filled with salol
5. 1 lump of clay
6. 1 tray

Procedure


For salol cooling at room temperature
  • Place a very small amount of (less than 1/8 of a teaspoon) of salol in a metal spoon.
  • Melt the salol by holding the spoon a little more than an inch above the flame of the candle.
  • Remove the spoon from the flame.
  • Add a few salol crystals as "seed crystals".
  • Prop up the handle so that the spoon stays leveled.
  • Look at the crystals and draw what you see.
For salol cooling below room temperature
  • Remelt crystals in spoon
  • Rest the bowl of the spoon on an ice cube.
  • Look at the crystals after they have crystallized and draw what you see.


Data/Observation

  • The salol cooling at room temperature formed small crystals
  • The salol cooling at temperature below room temperature formed huge crystals.

CER


Our prediction did come true as the salol cooling under the ice cube cooled faster than the salol cooling at room temperature. Also the crystals were in different shapes.


Formation of Sedimentary Rock



Vocabulary:


1. Sand: Grains which can be seen with a naked eye.
2. Silt: Grains that are visible with a magnifying glass but not with an open eye.
3. Clay: Cannot be seen except with a microscope.


Problem


How are sedimentary rocks made?

Hypothesis


My prediction is that if I mix all the three types of grain together, then maybe the grains will separate and the sand will sink to the bottom forming the lowest layer, the silt will pile up on the sand forming the middle layer, and the clay will pile up on top of the silt forming the
topmost layer.

Materials


  • 3 small cups
  • 1 paper towel
  • 1 plastic cup
  • 1 tray
  • 4 magnifying glasses
  • sand
  • silt
  • clay

Procedure


  • First, observe all three substances
  • Then, make a chart of their properties
  • Then, pour three/fourths cup of water into the plastic cup
  • After that, mix all three substances with the water
  • Observe what happens

Data/Observation


Sand

Silt

Clay

less than 2mm
less than 1/16mm
less than 1/256mm
feels like silt
fined grained
soft
has variety of colors
clear
feels like flour

feels like sand
easily compacted together




CER


Our hypothesis came true as the sand sank to the bottom, the silt was in the middle and the clay was on the top.

What Is It? A Rock or A Mineral

Rock #
Properties
Prediction: Rock or Mineral
Why
1
color:
white
texture:
smooth/ little rough
Mineral
We think it is a mineral because it is a huge piece of a crystal and also because it has the properties that a mineral should have.
2
color:
tan
texture:
smooth
Rock
We think its a rock because it looks like it is compressed by pressure and it was either a sedimentary rock or an igneous rock before changing into a metamorphic rock.
3
color:
black
texture:
rough
Rock
We think it looks like a metamorphic rock because it looks like it has compressed.
4
color:
dark gray
texture:
rough
Rock
We think it looks like an igneous rock.
5
color:
dark tan,
pink with dark black spots
texture:
rough
Rock
We think it looks like granite because it has the color and the properties that granite should have.
6
color:
black
texture:
smooth
Rock
We think it looks like obsidian because it has a very smooth and glassy luster and it has a black color.
7
color:
off-white
texture:
rough
Rock
We think it looks like pumice because it has a lot of holes which are in all different sizes and also because it is very light ( as in weight).
8
color:
variety
texture:
smooth
Rock
Since it has rock fragments in it, we think it is a type of sedimentary rock such as conglomerate or breccia.
9
color:
white/off- white
texture:
smooth
Rock
We think it is a rock because it has a lot of tiny holes like the rock, sandstone.
10
color:
light pink/white
texture:
rough
Rock
We think it looks like a rock because it has sparkling crystals
11
color:
light pink/pink
texture:
smooth
Mineral
We think it is a rock because it looks like rose-quartz.
12
color:
gray
texture:
smooth
Rock
We think it looks like the sedimentary rock, shale.
13
color:
black with red
texture:
rough
Mineral
We think it looks like cinnabar.
14
color:
transparent/
semi-transparent
texture:
smooth/rough
Mineral
We think it looks like quartz.
15
color:
light gray
texture:
little rough to smooth
Rock
We think it is a rock because it has shiny crystals.
16
color:
gray
texture:
smooth
Rock
We think it looks like slate because it looks as if it has been compressed and squeezed by pressure.